Chris Elston

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Posts posted by Chris Elston

  1. Posted

    Has anyone found an "OK" drawing software that is FREE that works for electrical drawings and can generate DXF or DWGs? I am trying to recommend some software to some kids I know that want to start to learn how to draw. I know AutoDesk offers educational software versions, but we both are looking for something a little bit lighter weight out there.

    Any recommendations you guys have stumbled upon?

  3. Posted

    Does anyone know if there is a firmware or hardware compatibly issues with producer / consumer tags? I've run into an issue where a newer PLC (version 28.0) works fine with Producer / Consumer tags, however and older (version 16.0) PLC doesn't seemed to want to work. I am trying to chase down the firmware trail and see if there is a compatibly matrix or hardware matrix somewhere that lists some limits or "not support" somewhere.

    Is anyone aware of such a thing?

  7. Posted

    Has anyone ever found a DeviceNET Master simulator they like or have used? I have a need to test several DeviceNET slaves. I would also like to toggle some of the I/O using the simulator in the DeviceNET slave. I see a couple online, but I am wondering if anyone has tried any of these.

    Would be super handy if I could also test CC-LINK and PROFIBUS with the same type of kit or same brand of master simulator.

  8. Posted

    On 6/6/2016 at 10:54 AM, kshitiz24 said:

    @Chris Elston That link is broken. Can you please help/redirect me to different link?

    As IO_Rack suggested, do a search is the best way to find the new link. It's tough to go through all 1.5 million posts and update old links. Doing a search brought up several of Okie's examples still.

  14. Posted

    In the sample that you downloaded, the modem that was used supports "AT" modem commands. This is something that is part of the modem. In this case, a US Robotics modem was used. Do you know if your GPRS Wavecom modem supports "AT" commands? Here is what I mean, here is a reference: http://michaelgellis.tripod.com/modem.html Then PLC sent "AT" commands to the modem to take remote control of it.

  16. Posted

    I am an Allen Bradley and GE guy...through and through...but recently I needed to do some CHEAP, CHEAP projects... so I tried one of these. Click PLCs. The software is pretty good and I think it meets what you are looking for. http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Catalog/Programmable_Controllers/CLICK_Series_PLCs_(Stackable_Micro_Brick)/PLC_Units I've used them on some Halloween things too...

  21. Posted

    For the QUE portion. Maybe make a UDT. Called "TrayConfig" Inside that UDT make your members you need. Right click and make a new UDT. Member #1 = Tray Size = INT Member #2 = Stack Size = INT Member #3 = whatever else you want for properties you want to keep track of. Then make an ARRAY Tag that is based on the TrayConfig Let's call it. "TrayQue" ARRAY. We can make an array of 7 of them lets say. So our Tag name is now TrayQue(0).TraySize TrayQue(0).StackSize Replace the "0" with a tag name that becomes the array pointer (an indirect address) or in this case the tag name is "CurrentTray". TrayQue[CurrentTray].TraySize TrayQue[CurrentTray].StackSize So now everything is driven off a single INT "CurrentTray, that you can increment or decrement in logic, or a paneview button etc... Now here is where the AOI comes into play. Have an AOI that has input parameters that accept these two inputs. TrayQue[CurrentTray].TraySize TrayQue[CurrentTray].StackSize Of course, you will have pre-written into the arrays the different numbers you need TrayQue[0].TraySize = 12 TrayQue[0].StackSize = 10 TrayQue[1].TraySize = 14 TrayQue[1].StackSize = 8 TrayQue[2].TraySize = 16 TrayQue[2].StackSize = 6 So when the CurrentTray is "1" The AOI gets a 14 and 8 passed into the AOI that does the "robot" part. Maybe you don't even need an AOI, but you can pass these numbers into whatever you need to make the robot do it's part. I hope I explain the idea of all that...

  22. Posted

    Are you familiar with making an AOI? (An Add on Instruction?). Would it be possible to make your own ADD-ON instruction that has ladder logic inside of it, that takes the information as parameters. AKA. Size of Tray and Qty of Stack. So your AOI would have two parameter inputs. When the AOI goes TRUE, the ladder inside the blocks takes those two bits of information and processes it depending on what you input as parameters? That's the first thing that came to mind next.

  23. Posted

    Is your application as simple as a "bit" to indicate the status of a part? Like could you use a BIT SHIFT to track your parts? I wrote an article how to use a bit shift here: http://www.mrplc.com/kb/Programming-Application-How-to-use-Bit-Shifts-(BSL)-in-PLCs_71.html If you scroll all the way down to the bottom, the last image is an animated GIF I made, that shows how a bit shift is used to track the status of a part through movement.

  25. Posted

    I was wondering if anyone had any better contacts at Rockwell about asking for some educational licenses for RS Studio 5000? Looking for QTY (4) seats. It's a bit different situation than just teaching some kids. If there was any further clarification on this, maybe send me PM message. I know alot of really good people at Rockwell, but software licensing is not really their forte, so I thought I would ask out here if someone knew of a person that maybe could give me a recommendation? Thanks. - Chris PS: I already tried locally and got a big fat "no". I guess maybe I could understand...lol...